I finally see the light!

[MomToTwoBoys]

I've decided to take on another step to being truly frugal:

reorganizing my home.

It's been a slow and steady process, but we've stepped it up a notch. I can already see what most people have been saying about it; it cleanses the spirit and makes you feel that much better about yourself. Decluttering = destressifying yourself! We had originally started on the kitchen and well, that'll always be a work in progress. We then decided to sit down and go through all of our cloth possessions: that's our regular clothes, our coats, everything! I went through both kids' dressers today and got rid of 1.5 bags (34L size) of clothes. DH managed to go through not only his three drawers in the dresser, but in his part of the closet, and reorganized everything. He gave me t-shirts, bandanas and shorts that he'd never wear again. I went ahead and cut them up into rags for cleaning. I rearranged my side of the closet and put everything to where I'd easily be able to reach it without pawing through everything. We're buying a Rubbermaid container tomorrow for his sweaters so they don't get all dusty and we'll be putting his shorts in there for the winter.

My next step:

Going through the oodles of sheets, pillow cases and blankets that we have in our linen closet. I'll also be looking at replacing the doors so that we can actually close it.

After that, we're planning on putting up the wooden coat rack in the basement (on the drywalled landing) and hanging all of the unused coats up on there. It'll save us on storage space and it'll be easily accessible if and when we have company over.

Next, we're going through the rest of the basement clothes and either cutting up the unsalvageable items into rags or donating the still wearable items to charity. My big problem? My attachment to youngest DS' clothes.

I've taken the frugal step forward and cut out an old cereal box, put all my magazines in it and put that in the bathroom. I'll also be putting the stockpiled HBA into an old 50s style suitcase that sits under the sink.

I hope that by the end of my reorganization, I'll feel alot less stressed than I do now. We have some sentimental things that'll never leave us, but the other materialistic items have to go!

[DonnainME]

WOW. Congrats on the re-org. I need to get going on that kind of thing. I have tons of junk in this house that belongs to my In-Laws. They didn't take all of their junk with them when they moved out. I look around and am just overwhelmed. Maybe I will just start in a little corner and go from there.

Good luck on accomplishing everything else on your list.

[cheles2kids]

Just a tip about your sons clothing.
What I did was to keep a really small box of just their "important" outfits, I have the outfit that both kids wore home from the hospital, a dress that my dd. wore to her first singing recital, a favorite old cap that my ds. wore when he was little, he wouldn't go anywhere without that thing.

This really helped me to get rid of the everyday clothes as opposed to the more special outfits that I remember them in.

Good Luck on your reorganization, I always feel so much happier after I've had a purging day, even if it's something as small as cleaning out a junk drawer in my kitchen.

[BlessedMomof2]

Good for you on the reorganizing! It was the hardest thing getting rid of my kids clothes from when they were younger. I went through them and kept only the important clothes and sold the rest. I keep the clothes in my cedar chest with my wedding dress and other important items.

I really need to start reorganizing my house.

[madhen]

Good for you!! I started a thread called Mad Hen's Messy Home Challenge for exactly the same reason - I'm tired of having to step over things!! I started with the kitchen, just because it is the most-used room in the house and, subsequently, the most disorganized, but I know exactly what you are talking about. As it slowly takes shape, I feel that much more in control of my life!

[dortrust]

I am on a mission to do the same. I recently closed a business and many of the decorating items (seasonal) came home. I have been through this stuff 3 times, each time downsizing more. It feels great like a weight off my shoulders. I had so much stuff I did not know what I had. I don't know how to get my husband to "Get It" I was getting rid of some nautical or summer things that he knows I love the theme and he said Why? you will just buy it again. I put it back. It is a mind boggling experience to get rid of things and for me it usually takes many times. I think it is extremely hard for frugal minded people because if we think we may need it it would save us money to just keep it?

[nancycg56]

Great job! I am continually fighting a losing battle here but I keep trying.

[Dobby]

Good for you!

I've been working on it for the past month, but it's slow going as I work fulltime and have 2 little kids, but it's coming. My kitchen is almost done de-cluttering (the counters have been clutter-free for a week now!), and I'm done my living room/scrapbook space!

I've gotten rid of 6 boxes of stuff to the second hand store, and have another 3 of clothes to give to a friend when she has her baby. I just love the feeling!

[Ceashels]

And you'll be arriving at my house WHEN to start doing that here?

That is awesome.

[Monner 1]

Boy have you made great progress. I have been doing a little at a time and it is starting to show some difference. I know what you mean about the linen closet. I got rid of a ton of stuff. I just love opening the door and seeing what I need immediately. My house is bloated just like the US government.

Monner

[VanVivCam]

great job. i started a few weeks ago and i have seemed to slip off track.

[pollypurebred39]

I have been doing the same thing but for different reasons. First we have been having yard sales all Summer to generate some much needed cash. It has been a real experience for sure. Most of what we have has been given to us by generous well meaning relatives. I did not know we had so much stuff.

Second, we live in a VERY small rancher and anything extra in our home just makes things look really messy and cluttered. It is SO HARD to keep looking neat and clean and SO MUCH WORK. Since I am not really all that well I've wanted to cut way back on the time and energy expended by cleaning and orgnizng things I don't need. I have a friend who swears that she barely spends any time cleaning and yet her home is spotless. Her secret? No clutter anywhere! Her home does not have that sparse feel but it has no clutter. She said that the more you have to move to clean the longer it takes. Almost all her knick-knacks are behind glass. She only has 2 sets of sheets for each bed, but extra pillow cases. She also has a strict rule if something new comes in her house something old must leave. She is ALWAYS taking something to GoodWill. She does not do any crafting or sewing so that is not an issue. That can be a big mess. I know it is in my home.

I'm working towards getting all of those things in the Closet/small room. Along with my clothes, shoes, stockpiled gifts bought on clearance. It is not a very big space so that means I need to be really selective in what I keep. My big goal right now is letting go of clothing that does not fit. That is VERY hard. I keep hoping that someday I'll fit these clothes again. Also, deciding what kinds of crafty thing to keep is such an ordeal. I want to keep it all. I also have a sewing machine that I'd like to get a small sewing table for and put in there. I'm not sure how I'll pull that off since the room is so small, but I'd really like to start sewing my own clothes. All of these things are important to me and they will not fit in our tiny bedroom. As it is my husband's hamper and shoes have to sit outside our bedroom door because after the bed,his grandmothers cedar chest and 2 dressers are in there there is no floor space. Hmm, still working on that.

Well, Good Luck in getting things organized. You seem to be doing a great job so far. It is encouraging to me.

[CarolBee]

Sounds like you are really making headway - I wish I could do the same here! We have a small 3 bedroom one bath house, and I also have a craft business...talk about clutter! I need to just pick a room and start. I run out of steam, though, and get sidetracked. I know things would be less stressful with less to clean and dust, so I think I am going to start (again) and just keep going.

[rosey7415]

this is an area that i really need help in. it is so encouraging reading about what you girls have accomplished. today was the day i was going into the cellar to start purging. here i am on the computer. i have such a hard time getting rid of stuff. stuff that family gave me, stuff that i could need again. it is a vicious cycle with me. i think it is my frugal personality that is against me here. i hate waste. my mother may come to live with me in the near future and i know i have to purge a lot of stuff in the cellar to move my den furniture down there. and when she comes it will be spur of the moment. i will keep reading here and try to get motivated. i think when i finally start down there i can keep going.....but it is overwhelming. i know.....lol.....one bite at a time.....lol

[mrsfoamy]

I've decided to drastically reduce my wardrobe too.
I was digging through 3 laundry baskets the other day thinking how people with simpler existences don't have to worry about constantly battling laundry.
I found stuff on the bottom I haven't worn since last winter.
Time to make the change!